BREAKING NEWS ..... JUDGE STANFORD BLAKE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT ......

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

To paraphrase a line from the infamous 1971 movie DIRTY HARRY .....

..... "You’ve got to ask yourself one question. DO YOU FEEL LUCKY?"

For the past 22 years we have been very lucky. Thousands of prosecutors, Assistant Public Defenders, and private bar attorneys have all felt lucky. The clerks, bailiffs, correction officers, and courthouse staff have all felt lucky. But most of all, the citizens of Miami-Dade County have been luckiest of all to have a Judge named Stanford Blake on the bench.

He began his career as an Intern in the Public Defender’s Office in 1972. At the time, he was attending his third year of law school at the University of Miami. He said of those first days appearing in court: "Your deodorant was failing you in 10 minutes, but afterward you would say, 'What a rush!’" He accepted a job at the PD’s office and worked there for five years. Then it was on to 16 years of private practice before getting elected to the Circuit Court bench in 1994. Most of us know him from his years on the bench at the Gerstein Justice Building where he led the Criminal Division as Administrative Judge for eight years. He left us a few years back and went first to the General Jurisdiction and then to the Family Division where he serves today.

He will tell you that his favorite case ever sitting as a Judge was the case of State of Florida v. John Connolly that was tried before him in 2008.  In 2005, Connolly was indicted on murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges in the 1982 slaying of John B. Callahan and the 1981 murder of Roger Wheeler, owner of the World Jai Alai sporting corporation. Callahan was murdered by John Martorano who left the corpse in the trunk of a Cadillac in a parking lot at Miami International Airport. Prosecutors alleged that Callahan was killed on the orders of Whitey Bulger and Stephen Flemmi after Connolly told them that the FBI was investigating Callahan's ties to the Winter Hill Gang in their ongoing investigation into Wheeler's death. Wheeler had been killed by Martorano in Tulsa, Oklahoma in May 1981.

Only in the movies, (they made one called The Departed based on these gangsters), could you ever see a cast of characters like those that showed up to testify in Judge Blake’s courtroom daily during the course of that trial. During the trial, Bulger associates Steve "The Rifleman" Flemmi and John "The Executioner" Martorano testified for the prosecution and admitted to murdering more than three dozen people.

There are a host of qualities you find in our great judges: intelligence, judicial demeanor, empathy, patience, calmness, respectful, fairness, efficiency, courage, diplomacy. Judge Stanford Blake had all of those qualities, but he had something rarely seen in our "great judges", something that we wish a few more of our judges might show: a sense of humor. It was Stan’s sense of humor that lightened up the courtroom atmosphere on those occasions when, where things might have boiled over, it was exactly what was called for. He always kept his smile and sense of humor despite having to deal with some of the "characters" he had to deal with on our side of the bench too.

Stan, at last year's FACDL black tie gala.

He always keeps us smiling.

Judge Blake was recently presented with the Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence where he was commended for his "rare mix of humor, intelligence, courage and diplomacy". Stan was called "a man of stature, a man of compassion, of a strong ethical and moral compass and one who has a unique understanding of the human condition." Another praised him for his "genuine compassion for the people and parties that appear before him." Several letters of support emphasized that, Judge Blake’s "contributions have been made without any desire or expectation of recognition. This is the truest measure of an outstanding public servant—to find reward in the very act of service."

All of these accolades and more are so true of our friend Stan Blake.

In addition to his work on the bench, Blake has served on the Exec Board of the Florida Judicial College for 20 years; the College for Advanced Judicial Studies for 10 years; and has taught litigation skills at UM Law School for the past 18 years. Also off the bench, Stan has been a fierce advocate for organ donation having donated his own kidney to his brother in 1996. He has also been a member of the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club for nearly forty years.

Below is Judge Stanford Blake’s resignation letter to Governor Scott:

Dear Governor Scott:

After almost 22 years as a Circuit Court Judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, I am at this time announcing my retirement as of August 31, 2016. .......

I have been blessed to have had this opportunity to change lives and help people. Few people are ever put in that position and I remember daily how important the responsibility I have as a judge. You have made excellent judicial appointments to the bench for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit and I am confident the JNC will send you very talented appointees for this seat. While I am sad to leave this position which I love every day, I will always cherish these past 22 years as a judge.

Sincerely yours,

Stanford Blake
Circuit Court Judge
Eleventh Judicial Circuit


Judge Blake: Thank you for your years of service to our community. We have been very lucky to have you. Good luck in all your future endeavors.

Readers: Please share your favorite Stan Blake story in the Comments section.

CAPTAIN OUT .......
Captain4Justice@gmail.com
 

DOCTOR (?????) STANFORD BLAKE .....

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

"DOCTOR" STANFORD BLAKE .....

 "I thought I was going to be a dentist.

    I don't know why. After three chemistry

         courses I said, 'This is not going to work.' "

The year was 1966. It was a fun time to be on campus at the University of Florida. But for freshman student Stanford Blake, it was all business. That was until he barely survived his first year of science classes. Then he switched to majoring in Advertising, even winning a national competition and earning job offers from NY ad agencies.

Fortunately for us, Stan didn’t want to live in cold weather NYC and really didn't see his future in advertising. NY’s loss - our gain. He went to the UM law school, and in his final year there, he interned at the Miami PD’s office. "He loved it "from the first day I went to court," Blake said.

"Your deodorant was failing you in 10 minutes,

but afterward you would say, 'What a rush!'"

He was hired by the PD’s office and spent five years there. Then 16 more in private practice as a criminal defense attorney. While he always thought that he might run for Judge one day, it wasn’t until Operation Court Broom that Stan thought seriously about it.  He said:

"My disillusion with everything really made me move it up," .

"I was so upset that judges were on the take, and I said,

'Sometimes, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.' "

Elected in 1994, he took the bench the following January. Now, 21 years later, he reflected on his career in a story this past weekend in the DBR that can be found here.

In 1996, he took a brief leave from the bench to donate a kidney to his brother.  He took another medical leave last year after doctors diagnosed him with cancer of the tonsils; which is related to the HPV virus and in men is often contracted through oral sex. He likes to joke about that scare:

"Lisa (his girlfriend) said I'm the only guy

who can brag about how he got cancer," Blake said.

It won’t be long before Judge Blake retires from the bench and goes the mediation route. While he is still on the bench, all of us in the criminal justice community want to say while we can: "Thanks for all the great memories" and all of your great years of service on the bench working for the citizens of our community. Well done my friend, well done.

CAPTAIN OUT .....
Captain4Justice@gmail.com

　

JUDGE SOTO SPEAKS!!

But not to us.....:(

From: Sabrina Puglisi
Date: August 5, 2010 5:05:57 PM EDT

Subject: FACDL-Miami Administrative Judge Soto

Everyone knows what a great Administrative Judge, Stan Blake was. But,
after meeting with Judge Soto, she would like me to advise our membership
that she is here to help us with whatever problems we may have with the
courthouse, Judges, etc. If you are having any issues with a Judge, and I
don't mean that you are irritated because he/she didn't rule in your favor,
please let me know so that I can bring it to her attention.

She did mention that one of the pet peeves of the Judges is when attorneys
send someone to cover for them at a Sounding and that attorney knows
nothing about the case, can't answer basic questions and cannot convey a
plea. The judges feel that some lawyers are always sending someone else in and never show up themselves which make resolving the cases impossible.

Rumpole wonders: What made Stan Blake such a great administrative Judge? It's not like during his reign there was valet parking for attorneys and a private lounge with a well stocked refrigerator and a flat screen TV with CNBC on it.

He certainly is a good judge to have try your case, and he is outgoing and friendly, but other than glom all the really interesting murder trials for himself, what did he really do as an administrative judge that made our lives as attorneys any better? OK- there's the "special" line at the back of the courthouse for security screening. But the screeners don't stop defendants from getting in it, so that doesn't really help much.

We're just wondering. If you had to compare his tenure to a president, he's like Grover Cleveland or Billy Taft or Rutherford B. Hayes. Nothing special.

BYE BYE BLAKE?

The rumor is that Judge Stanford Blake, head honcho at the REGJB is rotating to (Update) Family (not civil as we earlier reported)

No word on who is replacing him. Judge Adrien has been nominated by readers of the blog, but Samantha Ruiz Cohen may have something to say about that. We hear her campaign is going like gangbusters and just about every day we see a different fundraiser for her in our email. Greenberg Traurig is throwing one for her soon, and that's a pretty hefty firm to have on your side. Judge Adrien's days may well be numbered and that, in our humble opinion, is not necessarily a bad thing.

Good move? Bad move? What say you?

Who do you want to see take over the reins as CJ for the REGJB?

("Where have you gone Ralph Person? Our courthouse turns its lonely eyes towards you")

Global warming- the good news: probably less hurricanes.

Global warming the bad news: more powerful hurricanes.

Read all about it in the Herald here.

FAKED OUT- BLAKE NOT RETIRING

UPDATED BELOW: Stacy Glick writes in about her dad. 

JUDGE BLAKE IS NOT RETIRING!!!!!!!  

Proving just how hard it is to blog 3,000 miles away from Miami, we eat a bit of crow here and announce, much to everyone's satisfaction we may add, that Judge Stanford Blake is NOT retiring. 

There was an announcement on the rarely used PA system this morning. Some have said that the announcement mistakenly said Judge Blake was retiring before correcting the announcement and saying that it was Judge Lenny Glick who was retiring and today was his last day. 

It was before dawn in our winter blogger's retreat in the cold and snowy  Sierra Nevada mountains when our email started buzzing with the shocking news about Judge Blake.  By the time we got back from a few snow board runs, the whole mess had been straightened out. 

Either way, we say: 1) Glad to have you back Judge Blake. And many more years to come we hope. 

2) Au revoire and farewell Judge Glick. You've really spent a lifetime in the REGJB. From a prosecutor in the old municipal court, to a Chief Prosecutor  under Janet Reno, to a long serving and greatly respected trial judge, we hope this next chapter in your life provides  you with happiness and fulfillment.   We will miss you, and we hope you return often as a retired judge, where your counsel and wisdom will be greatly welcomed.  Miami is a better place because of the service you provided our community throughout your entire  career.  Of course very few if any judges are afforded the wonderful and proud moment of retiring only to have their daughter replace them. You are a lucky man indeed. 

Godspeed. 

HR. 

Tomorrow on the blog:  Janet Reno to return as State Attorney? 

 

UPDATE: STACY GLICK:

The soon to be honorable Stacy Glick wrote on the comments section this about her dad: 

I am very proud of my father. I know he is looking forward to spending time with my mother in his retirement. He deserves well-wishes from all who practice in the REGJB. While it would be nearly impossible to match his 35-year committment and dedication to serving this community, I am proud and humbled to be filling his seat in the upcoming years. I hope he enjoys his retirement but I look forward to his return as a mentor and fine jurist. 

Thanks for writing in Ms. Glick, and just remember these three little letters , where applicable: " J..O....A."    Try it out. It's more fun than you may have realized as a prosecutor. 

See you in court next year. 

BLAKE OUT OR FAKE OUT????

Our email exploded this morning with loyal readers sending us messages from their phones in court  that Judge Stan Blake has unexpectedly retired and that TODAY was his last day in court. Some readers wrote that the rarely used REGJB building wide speaker system was put into use announcing the Criminal Division's Chief Judge's retirement. 

So as we sit here ensconced  high in our Sierra Nevada Winter Blogger's retreat, fully aware that it is not April First, is  it BLAKE OUT OR FAKE OUT?